If you are concerned about getting older and know that you need to make some changes in your life, it’s time to stop thinking and start doing. It’s time for your new life over 50 to begin. So don’t waste your time feeling bad about getting older because it’s not a bad thing. Now that you are over 50 and have more life experience you’re probably a good bit smarter and wiser too. Put this wisdom into action and look at this as an exciting opportunity to create a new chapter for you. It’s true that your new life can begin over 50. In fact even if you’re over 60 or 70 it’s not too late for change either.
You may be thinking that you’ve made some mistakes, maybe that you haven’t always taken the right path in life when you had choices to make. You are not alone most of us would have done at least some things differently given the chance again. Often when we have to make choices we are not sure which one is going to be the best for us in the long run. At the time we make our decision it’s based on the best knowledge we have right then. Everything changes, we change, our needs change and situations change. You have a far better chance of getting what you want in your life over 50 when you take control, make a plan and have direction.
If you seriously want to make some changes you need to set some SMART goals which means they need to be:
Specific – You need to know exactly what you want. Be specific with what you want and not wishy washy.If you decide that you want to have better health for life over 50, well you need to know what that means. Do you need to lose some weight, lower your blood pressure, increase your energy level, need more stamina, or stop smoking? Better health can mean a number of things and be different for each one of you.
If you think that you need a make-over what needs making over? Do you look way older than your 50s when there is no need to? Is it your wardrobe, do you need a different hair cut and style, make-up, skin care or all of the above. Do you need to be more organized? What needs to be organized?
If you need an exercise plan to keep you fit over 50 what type of exercise plan is it to be? Do you prefer to work out alone or with a group, at home or at a gym? How many times a week will you exercise and for how long? Are you going to be training for a specific event like a charity run, a half marathon or are you planning on taking a cycling or hiking holiday? These are all factors in making the type of changes you need.
You get the idea of being specific
Measurable – While you are working on making your life over 50 changes you need a way to measure your success, where you are in the process of your goals of making change. If it’s not measurable how will you know when you achieve it? If your goal is losing weight you can set a number of lbs you want to lose or you may have a specific pair of jeans or a dress that you want to wear. This is measurable. You will know that you’ve reached your goal when you can wear the item or reach the weight that you’ve set for yourself. Finding a way to measure your success will help to keep you motivated and on track. It’s easy to get discouraged if you think nothing is changing and it actually may be but you are not measuring so probably not noticing yet.
Accountable – Be accountable and take responsibility for your actions. If you’ve said that you are going to do something and you don’t do it don’t make excuses or blame others. Whether your over 50 or any other age when you are accountable you will be able to pick up the pieces and get back to your original plan. We all suffer setbacks the key is to not use them as an excuse to whimp out. You will be glad that you kept going when you get the success that you want and deserve.
Realistic – Be realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unattainable unrealistic goals. Give yourself a chance of success. Sometimes we get carried away and set goals so high we haven’t a hope of achieving them. This is your life over 50 now and you are not 20 so things will be a different in a number of aspects and so should your expectations of what you may be able to do. If you want to lose 30 lbs in a month, honestly what are the chances of that happening? It’s possible to have a good chance of success if you say to lose 5 lbs in a month and a 30 lbs loss over 6-8 months. It’s still going to take effort and commitment on your part but at least that’s doable. So being realistic is required when making change.
Time Line – Having a timeline is important. Without a timeline you can drag things out forever and not see any results. If you want to start planning more vacations for yourself and you don’t have the funds available to put your hands on whenever you like, you’ll need to plan ahead and save. Let’s say that the trip you have your eye on is going to cost $850 and you know you don’t have the money set aside to go; then you have to put money away so if you can manage to save $150 a month you can set a timeline of about 8 months down the road that you will be able to go on that vacation. What you’ve saved will pay for the trip and give you a little extra. Now your over 50 you may want o expand your interests so if you want to learn something new set a time line of when you will start and complete the project or you won’t have the same motivation and will keep putting it off.
If you follow the SMART Goals process you will be able to change your life over 50 whether it’s a big change that you just want some minor changes. Remember that you are in charge and you can do it if you want to!